Healthcare commission report on CFRs
14.12.2007
The healthcare commission has just completed a national review of the role of Community First Responders across the country.
Some of the key findings of the report:
- The number of emergency calls that CFRs attend is relatively low in comparison to the number of calls attended by ambulance staff. In 2006/2007 the 12 ambulance services that took part in the survey received and responded to five million 999 calls. Of these, CFRs were sent to 92,928 which is 1.8% of the total calls.
- All CFRs are trained to provide Basic Life Support, but the type of training that CFRs receive varies between localities. Eleven localities use the Institute of Healthcare Development's "First Person on Scene" course. The other localities use in-house courses, that in some cases are based on the "First Person on Scene" qualification although they do not register with the Institute of Healthcare Development.
- For the majority of localities (19) oxygen is the only drug that CFRs are approved to administer. However, seven localities have additional approved medications for CFRs to administer including entonox (pain relief), intramuscular injection for anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) and glucose for diabetic comas.
- Three localities allow specific CFRs to repond to calls using blue lights and sirens.These CFRs need to have already completed advanced driver training through their full-time occupation (e.g. as a GP.)
- One locality reported that each CFR scheme has a designated vehicle that is adapted by the ambulance service to include blue lights and a siren. Guidance is provided to ensure that CFRs comply with Road Traffic Act and do not exceed speed limits or pass red lights.
Read the full report on the Healthcare Commission website.